Most Important Touring Mods?

[Nefilim]

So I want to do some long-range touring on my FZ6 and it's still in it's bone-stock form. I've only been riding it for two days and I don't really know its weaknesses yet other than that I need a larger windshield and some bags.

So what are some of the more important touring mods you guys would recommend?

 

[chihuahuastud]

Cruise control, even if its only a "Cramp Buster".

 

[rider1a]

So I want to do some long-range touring on my FZ6 and it's still in it's bone-stock form. I've only been riding it for two days and I don't really know its weaknesses yet other than that I need a larger windshield and some bags.

So what are some of the more important touring mods you guys would recommend?

How much touring are we talking about? Multi-state 2,000 miles+ or just a few hundred miles over a weekend? Let's go for the multi-state thingey....so remember the "holy trinity" of long-distance riding, the seat, the shocks and the windscreen and throw in a Vista Cruise to lock on your throttle when going down long stretches of slab.

"The seat" - Well you can get a $Russell Day Long$ or Bill Mayer saddle for the deluxe route or a Corbin or Sargent for a cheaper alternative. You could always try to have your seat modified and stuffed with memory foam first...Google "Spencer Seat Mod"

Dump the stock shocks and install the touring option of the Hyperpro kit. Basically springs for the front and rear. The result is the bike will feel much more compliant on the road and easier on the back after a long day of riding.

With the windscreen try a CalSci XXL version. You can always cut it down to match your exact size. Windscreens are quite tricky and what works for one rider may not for another of different proportions.

For luggage and ol' rubber duffle with handles will work fine. It can repel the rain and store quite a bit. Just secure it with zip ties or bungy cords.

This set-up should be sufficient for the more lengthy touring.

Fred

 

[wdsoccer]

what is a good cruise control to get that is decently priced? i am taking a road trip to pensacola fl from texas and this would come in handy.

 

[sfcali86]

universal vista cruise sontrol

 

[wdsoccer]

anyone have the vista cruise control? how do yall like it?

 

[bradms38]

I had my local dealer install a water proof 12vdc receptacle off of my handle bar/handle bar mount. It cost me around $50 installed. The dealer wired it in such a way that power is only present to it when the bike is on and it is fused inline to the battery. I wanted it to be able to plug in an ordinary GPS, radar detector, or car cell phone charger. I've used it and it works great.

Brad

 

[Nefilim]

"The seat" - Well you can get a $Russell Day Long$ or Bill Mayer saddle for the deluxe route or a Corbin or Sargent for a cheaper alternative. You could always try to have your seat modified and stuffed with memory foam first...Google "Spencer Seat Mod"

How much do the Bill Mayer saddles go for? I am probably going to get mine stuffed locally for now since I don't have exorbitant amounts to spend.

With the windscreen try a CalSci XXL version. You can always cut it down to match your exact size. Windscreens are quite tricky and what works for one rider may not for another of different proportions.

I'm 24 and 6'0 and I was thinking of getting the medium CalSci screen with +8 inches. I prefer laying on the tank on the interstate and planned to get a tank bag and fill it with clothes for a nice pillow to lay on for long jaunts.

Is +8 going to be too short for someone who mostly leans down?

 

[Nefilim]

universal vista cruise sontrol

I had one of these on my Shadow and it was near useless. It would just let the throttle slip so I would be continually losing speed once I activated it. Was it just not tight enough or is it normal for them to slip?

Speaking of cramped hands, is it possible to put Kuryaken ISO grips of the handlebars? My dad has a pair on his ST1300 but I'm not sure how thick the stock handlebars are.

 

[jtarkany]

How much touring are we talking about? Multi-state 2,000 miles+ or just a few hundred miles over a weekend? Let's go for the multi-state thingey....so remember the "holy trinity" of long-distance riding, the seat, the shocks and the windscreen and throw in a Vista Cruise to lock on your throttle when going down long stretches of slab.

"The seat" - Well you can get a $Russell Day Long$ or Bill Mayer saddle for the deluxe route or a Corbin or Sargent for a cheaper alternative. You could always try to have your seat modified and stuffed with memory foam first...Google "Spencer Seat Mod"

Dump the stock shocks and install the touring option of the Hyperpro kit. Basically springs for the front and rear. The result is the bike will feel much more compliant on the road and easier on the back after a long day of riding.

With the windscreen try a CalSci XXL version. You can always cut it down to match your exact size. Windscreens are quite tricky and what works for one rider may not for another of different proportions.

For luggage and ol' rubber duffle with handles will work fine. It can repel the rain and store quite a bit. Just secure it with zip ties or bungy cords.

This set-up should be sufficient for the more lengthy touring.

Fred

Agreed!

I'm 5' 9", 200 lbs and did a round trip from California to Missouri Solo, about 2 yrs ago (I was 40 at the time maybe 41) with the FZ stock, I averaged 500 miles a day.

If you can't do all three, definitely go with the seat, not just for comfort, but also to get circulation to your growing and legs.

Have a great trip and be safe :thumbup:.

 

[jreese86]

I've put about 1600 miles on my FZ6 in a little over a month in the cold ohio weather. My longest trip so far was 270 miles. Here's my suggestions:

- Aftermark Seat. My ass was seriously sore after 270 miles in about 6 hours last weekend. 80 of that, 40 at the beginning, 40 at the end, was highway. Get a Corbin or Top Saddlery seat.

- Handguards (if you plan on riding in cooler weather) - these things have made riding to work in the 30's much more bareable. Combined with a good set of warm gloves, you'll be nice and toasty.

- Throttle Rocker or similar device. Mine just got here, haven't used it, but if it does what it says it does for the $12 I paid, I'll be thrilled.

- Heated Grips. I don't have these but my Dad swears by them (he's a HD guy) even in warm weather. It keeps your hands from getting sore because of the heat keeping the blood flowing.

- Good expandable tank bag. I have a Nelson Rigg. It's seriously amazing. Can hold a ton of stuff and turns in to a backpack very easily.

- Saddlebags. Again, I have a Nelson Rigg set. They're huge, but if you need even more, get the tailbag too. The utility factor is amazing. I brought 5 bottles of wine home from Atwood Lake with no problems. Still had room to spare.

- Windshield. Get a windshield that deverts the wind off your chest depending on your size. Might cause more helmet noise but you won't have to push to lean into the wind at freeway speeds.

- Not a mod, but if you are looking to ride in cool weather, get a neckguard/baclava. I couldn't have put half the miles on my bike that I have this season without it.

 

[regder]

I'd say it depends on YOU, go out for a long ride and see what hurts you the most afterwards

For instance, the stock seat wasn't terrible for my skinny butt, even did a few 1000km days without too much of a pain, I still got a Corbin though. My number one mod is something to take the strain off your right wrist, crampbuster and the like works ok, throttlemeister is better.

Bags and whatever you can figure out for your storage needs

Best thing to do is just ride the bike and figure out what bugs you from there

 

[Yatz86]

my best touring mod is gotto be scottoiler. =)

dont have to worry about chain getting dry from all the riding.

 

[bmccrary]

Everyones set up is different.

I personally like the stock seat, I might look into upgrading the seat at some later time, but for now it works fine for me.

I have an 05 model, and the Yamaha touring screen works well for me.

I would like to install a cruise control at some point.

I run an intercom system on my bike that includes a CB radio and a NOA weather radio.

Multiple bag set ups!

Also, there is a section down towards the bottom specifically for touring that I had the admin set up. Check it out sometime, glad to have you in there. Barb, Agmom, sticks her head in from time to time. She makes us all look like wusses...

-bryan

 

[steveindenmark]

The number 1 in my book is breakdown cover. If I am in Sweden, Italy, France or anywhere else in Europe and I break down that my bike will be on it`s way home and I can get on with my holiday. The best "mod" on the bike and often overlooked.

You think you need a higher screen. You probably need a lower screen for long distance touring. Search for my "2006 windscreen mod" and see what the guys say.

Seat for sure but look on here to see what the guys have done themselves.

Hard boxes. Mine are Kappa, cheaper than Givi and it gives you more security. Mine have been on for 20,000km and are still like new.

Power outlet for GPS. Not essential but makes life a lot easier.

Passenger peg extentions from Hepco and Becker, if you have a passenger.

A camera to stuff in your pocket.

Vista cruise controls do work but again not essential.

steve

 

[Hollywood416]

For me #1 is a better seat, instead of buying an expensive aftermarket one I had a local apholstery shop reshape mine and add a gel pad it is 1000X better than stock.
#2 being decent luggage, it sure beats having to lug a backpack around all the time. I went with the Cortech Sport set and it suits my needs just fine and looks pretty good too.
#3 for me is good set of grips, stockers suck. Plus grips are cheap I bought a set of gel ones off ebay that were great. Recently replaced them with another set that "looked" a little better the new ones are aweful and make my hands hurt on long rides. Going to change them back out soon as new ones arrive.

I guess Cruise control would be next I don't have one yet but most of my long rides are not on straight sections of road so it wouldn't do me much good anyway.

 

[reiobard]

I got the Grip puppies had grips and also some universal motorcycle grip heaters and it makes trips when it is a little chill infinately better, Bets $40 (Combined) i ever spent on the bike.

Other than that you can get into some real money by doing suspension upgrades, like cartridge forks, replace/re-spring the rear...

and upgraded tires are never a bad investment.

 

[abacall]

Tires are a great investment.
If you will be traveling at night I would also suggest upgrading your lighting. Either with upgraded bulbs from reputable manufacturers (German, not Chinese), or with a good HID retrofit WITH projectors.

 

[frt96]

Hi there,
I ride 90 miles each way commuting. I have a Yamaha touring windshield, gel grips, 1" bar risers, and throttlemiester. I am sending my seat into spencer this week to get rid of my sore butt. If that doesn't work I'm going to bite the bullet and get a Russel "Day long" saddle.
For storage I have a magnetic tank bag and a set of soft saddle bags.
I love the bike for long rides, but I think I'm a bit to heavy for the stock seat.
Hopefully this helps.

 

[rider1a]

what is a good cruise control to get that is decently priced? i am taking a road trip to pensacola fl from texas and this would come in handy.

Actually a Vista Cruise control device is not a "cruise control" like that found on a car where it automatically adjust the speed and keeps the car in a certain MPH regardless of the terrain.

The Vista Cruise is a throttle lock. It basically locks the throttle in a fixed position. If you are going through hills, the bike will slow down and go faster on the down-leg which many times will exceed the speed limit (Leo traps!). The throttle lock is best used on FLAT, straight highways.

If you want an actual cruise control device they run up to $500 dollars and take up to five to eight hours to install since you have to access the internal part of the bike like the fuel injectors, throttle bodies etc.

The Vista Cruise at $15.00 is a $cheaper$ option. For a more integrated look there is always the famous Throttlemeister that replaces the bar ends and can be used to tighten the throttle control as well.



I prefer the Vista Cruise since is can be quickly turned on/off with a flick of your thumb. It is a great way to change riding positions, stretch your right arm and get blood flowing through your body as you proceed truckin' down the road.